Readers, Friends and Family,

My grandmother passed on tonight at the age of 99.

I was able to go see her in May, and I had the sense then that her time was short.  I am glad I did, because I silently said my goodbyes then, so I am not filled with any agony of regret. 

During her life she did many extraordinary things, the least of which was raising 13 children.   She is survived by 12 of those 13 children, at least 50 grandkids, lord only knows how many great grand children, and even 3 great great granddaughters.

 

No wonder she was declared San Jose California’s mother of the year many years ago. 

 

She leaves no massive estate or trust, but she leaves an overwhelming legacy of love, far more valuable, to me than anything else.

My family is very close, and we have already survived one devastating loss, my uncle Allen in 1995.  But my family also believes in dealing with a passing on by celebrating life, not only the life that was, but the lives that are.

While we don’t approach the level of a wake, we do take the time to enjoy the bonds of family.  I wrote this in 1995 when my uncle passed, and it holds doubly true now:

“As a matter of background, my father’s family is very large. He is second eldest of 13 children. The children arrived from around 1932 to 1953, and all 13 lived and grew into adulthood, despite 3 of them serving in the Marine Corps in Korea (my dad included); despite a much high mortality rate from childhood diseases; and despite having 11 rowdy boys, a feat that I consider to be somewhat blessed all on it’s own.

My grandmother is, or should be, a certified saint, having raised these 11 boys and 2 girls. (don’t pity the heavily outnumbered girls, they are today two of the most amazing and strong women I know) Grandmother was named Mother of the Year in San Jose California in the mid 50s, a title she earned many times over.. She was also on her own from the mid 60s or so when my grandfather died. I hardly knew him really, but she remains a firm memory.